"You may all leave," the Empress waved her hand.
Everyone responded and quickly left.
"Your father rebuked me for being incompetent and unable to manage the harem properly." The Empress sneered, "This Consort Lin was Consort Li's person, and she had been quite favored for the past few months. Now that she's gone, I'm afraid I'll be the first one they suspect."
After all, His Majesty is currently favoring the Second Prince.
It seems that the Empress and Consort Li Xian could not get along.
"Has the Empress Dowager found any clues?" Shu Chengfeng asked.
“How could poisonous substances be so easily found in the palace? Only someone of high rank could bring them in,” the Empress said.
“Consort Li Xian supports Consort Lin to maintain her favor, yet she refuses to let anyone live in her Lin Hua Palace. This shows that Consort Lin is not necessarily valued by her.” Shu Chengfeng frowned: “The death of Consort Lin is nothing. Mother, you must be vigilant; someone is trying to kill two birds with one stone.”
"You mean..." The Empress frowned as well: "I understand."
Shu Chengfeng didn't stay here long; he left after only a cup of tea.
Before the afternoon, news came that a palace maid had been beaten to death in the Empress's palace for theft.
Stealing from one's master's property is a capital offense if caught.
That very night, poison was found in Song Guiyi's Zhenxia Pavilion. It was the same kind that Lin Xiaoyi had taken.
Consort Song, fearing punishment, also committed suicide by poisoning herself.
This incident led to the conclusion that Song Guiyi had harmed Lin Xiaoyi. During this period, the two women were also suspected of vying for the emperor's favor.
The truth is no longer important.
Importantly, Consort Song was a person of Consort Zhou.
Consort Zhou had two sons, the seventh prince and the eighth prince. The seventh prince was very favored, as was Consort Zhou herself.
So this matter ends here.
Within just two days, one person of high rank and one person of low rank died in the palace, which was truly lamentable.
After the two days of rest granted by the Crown Princess, when they paid their respects again, everyone couldn't help but sigh.
"Last year, Consort Song was truly favored. I remember His Majesty bestowed upon her an extremely valuable hair ornament. He said the gemstones on it alone were incredibly rare. She loved it dearly. Tsk, and it's only been a year, and she's already gone." Ye Liangdi clicked her tongue, but whether she was lamenting or amused, only she knew.
“It’s clear that people shouldn’t take advantage of their status to do bad things. If she hadn’t poisoned Lin Xiaoyi, this wouldn’t have happened,” Luo Liangyuan said.
“That’s true. One must find one’s place in life.” The Crown Princess smiled. “Your Majesty the Empress is decisive and efficient.”
She glanced at Ye Liangdi as she said this.
Ye Liangdi snorted, unable to refute these words, after all, the Empress was her aunt.
Everyone just watched the show and no one got involved.
Once Consort Ye calmed down, the Crown Princess was satisfied.
So he waved his hand and told everyone to disperse.
Upon returning to Jiyue Pavilion, Yan Nangui immediately ordered someone to deliver the congratulatory gifts for the Princess to the main courtyard.
Since the eldest princess is marrying off her daughter, the Crown Prince's residence naturally needs to send gifts. She won't send them personally; she'll just go along with the gifts from the Crown Prince's residence.
The Crown Princess simply smiled when she saw these items: "They look nice, but unfortunately none of them are usable. This Consort Yan is indeed at odds with her stepmother."
"Yes, you must say, this Princess is really something. What's so great about the Meng family? She herself stole someone else's husband and became his second wife, yet she wants her own daughter to become a second wife as well. Although no one says anything about it to her face, there must be many people laughing at her behind her back," the maid Su Jin said with a smile.
"The Meng family is her money bag. Don't be fooled by the fact that the Yan family is not short of money; she may not be. After all, if the General and she had a good relationship, would he not come back for several years?" Jianchun said with a smile.
"You can't just sell your daughter, can you? It's really cruel of you. I heard that the eldest son of the Meng family dotes on his cousin, Li Shi. She's a vixen. Even if the princess's own daughter marries into that family, can she compare to her?" Su Jin shook her head.
"Do you think all cousins in the world are as incompetent as the one in our household? The Meng family will definitely be in for a show then," the Crown Princess said.
The girls all laughed and went along with what she said.
Yanjia.
Yan Jinsi threw her wedding dress aside and sat there so angry that she couldn't even drink her tea.
Her wet nurse tried to persuade her, but she just wouldn't listen.
Outside the door, the young maidservant said cautiously, "Fourth Miss, please try to persuade her; the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day..."
"Get in here!" Yan Jinsi shouted angrily.
At the door, Yan Jinfei, dressed in a moon-white dress, smiled and entered: "Third sister, what's wrong? Third sister is getting married, with a grand wedding procession of ten miles of red bridal party. Why aren't you happy?"
"Ten miles of red bridal procession? How about I give you this good thing?" Yan Jinsi looked at her younger sister, but there was not a trace of warmth in her eyes.
Yes, she had a large dowry.
The number of geese returning south is twice that of those from years ago.
But what's the use? Her mother is a princess, so naturally she can give her countless valuable but completely useless things.
She went to the Meng family to pave the way for the younger sister in front of her.
What use is she now? Why would her mother send her to the Meng family with such a large sum of money?
"Sister, you're joking. If I were the elder sister, I would naturally want to share Mother's burdens as well." Yan Jinfei smiled and sat down. "Sister, don't be angry. The Meng family wouldn't dare to mistreat you."
"Yan Jinfei! We are sisters! How can you be so cold?" In the past, the sisters considered themselves to be of noble status.
She had never thought much of Yan Nangui and Yan Jinxiu from the second wife's side, but now she suddenly realized that even sisters born of the same mother were not truly close.
The truth will eventually come out. Although Yan Jinsi is not as cunning as Yan Jinfei, she is not stupid either.
She knew, of course, that her sister had agreed as well!
The mother had so many considerations, but she only had two daughters. She had even said before that she wanted her to be the seventh prince's principal wife.
But what about now?
Someone actually started talking about the eleventh and twelfth princes.
She, who is already fifteen years old, is certainly not the one who can marry those two princes.
Only Yan Jinfei still has a chance.
I never imagined that my own sister, who was only ten years old, would be so cunning!
"What are you saying, Third Sister? The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day, stop making a fuss. Mother will be angry if she finds out." Yan Jinfei stood up, picked up the scattered wedding dress and put it away. "I am your own sister, of course I will side with you, don't think nonsense."
Yan Jinsi had been raging for days, and now she was starting to lose her temper. She just bit her lip, looked at Yan Jinfei, and after a long while, let out a cold laugh.
But deep down, I felt an indescribable sadness and anger.
In the past, they both looked down on others, and now, her younger sister probably looks down on her too.
My mother is so biased.
Yan Jinsi lowered her head, resentment rising in her heart. She could only go to the Meng family, but what about Yan Jinfei?
Will she be able to marry the prince as she wishes? And even if she does, what then?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
